Lot 224: AFGHANISTAN – ATKINSON, James (1780-1852). Sketches in Afghaunistan. [Londo

AFGHANISTAN – ATKINSON, James (1780-1852). Sketches in Afghaunistan. [London: Henry Graves, 1842.] [With:] — The Expedition into Afghanistan: Notes and Sketches descriptive of the Country. London: W.H. Allen, 1842. The frst edition, in deluxe, fully hand-coloured portfolio format. This copy accompanied by an original watercolour drawing and the scarce text volume. Atkinson, a doctor by training and an accomplished Persian scholar, had accompanied the army of the Indus on its march to Kabul and returned to Bengal in 1841 before the massacre of the army of occupation. His work is one of the earliest collections of views of Afghanistan. There are particularly fne views of Kabul, including a scene of a bazaar and two views of the beautiful Gardens of Babur, but the most dramatic plates are an extensive series showing the march of British troops through the narrow Bolan Pass on their way to take Kandahar. Abbey, Travel 508; Colas 173; Tooley 73. Together 2 volumes, folio (557 x 450mm) and octavo (202 x 120mm). Plate volume: Lithographed pictorial title and 25 tinted lithographed plates by Charles and Louis Haghe after James Atkinson, all hand-coloured and mounted on thick, ruled card; single leaf of letterpress description printed in blue (a few spots, some discoloration to card, descriptive text leaf with some creases and repaired tears and preserved in later window mat). With an original watercolour drawing (240 x 365mm) of plate 21, 'Caubul, from a Burying Ground on the Mountain Ridge, North East of the City,' preserved in a modern mat. Loose as issued in contemporary green cloth portfolio, upper cover with green morocco gilt title-label (rebacked and faps renewed, corners showing). Text volume: Frontispiece map. Original green cloth (discreetly rebacked, some rubbing). Provenance: William H. Morley (neat contemporary blindstamp to text volume).